About
The project, and the network behind it.
Theology, philosophy, religious studies, and psychology brought to one question: how trust in science forms and fails within religious communities.
The grant
- GrantTRT-2022-30120, Templeton Religion Trust, administered through Samford University
- TermSeptember 2023 to August 2026
- Amount$160,077
- Principal investigatorJosh Reeves, Samford University
- Co-directorsJeroen de Ridder (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, philosophy); Jonathan Jong (St Mary's University, London, psychology)
- Network31 scholars across six workshops in psychology, theology, religious studies, and philosophy
Trusting God and Trusting Science was funded by the Templeton Religion Trust and administered through Samford University, running from September 2023 to August 2026. Its purpose was to bring theologians, philosophers, religious studies scholars, and psychologists into conversation about a problem each had studied alone, why trust in science forms and fails within religious communities. Over three years it convened 31 scholars across six workshops, produced literature reviews and publications, and built the research agenda this site makes public. The directors and the scholars who took part are listed below, along with the grant record and how to get in touch.
Directors
Josh Reeves
Principal investigator · Samford University
Josh Reeves directs the Center for Science and Religion at Samford University and led the project as principal investigator. He wrote the theology and religious studies literature review and is completing a book for churches on the Bible and conspiracy theories. His Redeeming Expertise (Baylor, 2021) develops the account of trust and expertise the project builds on.
Jeroen de Ridder
Philosophy co-director · Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Jeroen de Ridder is a philosopher at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. He led the philosophy track and wrote the project's philosophy literature review.
Jonathan Jong
Psychology co-director · St Mary's University, London
Jonathan Jong is a psychologist at St Mary's University, Twickenham, London. He led the psychology track and co-edited the special issue of Current Opinion in Psychology, "Trust in Science and Beyond," with Natalia Zarzeczna.
The scholar network
Thirty-one scholars took part across six workshops, all held on Zoom in 2025. Each track is listed with its format, dates, and lead, followed by the participants and their affiliations at the time of the grant.
- Psychology
- Theology
- Religious studies
- Philosophy
Psychology and social science
- Carissa Sharp Birmingham
- Kimberly Rios Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Tania Lombrozo Princeton
- Larisa Heiphetz Columbia
- Matthew Facciani Notre Dame
- Bastiaan Rutjens Amsterdam
- Adam Baimel Oxford Brookes
- Carola Leicht Kent
- Miguel Farias Coventry
- Natalia Zarzeczna Essex
Theology
- Melanie Dzugan Fuller
- Andrew "Dru" Johnson Wycliffe Hall, Oxford
- Rope Kojonen Helsinki
- Jared Stacy Independent
- Gijsbert van den Brink Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Religious studies
- Tom Aechtner Queensland
- Tristan Sturm Queen's Belfast
- Donovan O. Schaefer Penn
- Carmen Celestini Waterloo
- Zara T. Kamwendo Durham
Philosophy
- Jacob Stegenga NTU Singapore
- Kevin Elliott Michigan State
- Teresa Branch Leibniz Hannover
- Dario Mortini Barcelona
- Mikkel Gerken Southern Denmark
- Torsten Wilholt Leibniz Hannover
- Gabriele Contessa Carleton
- Katherine Furman Liverpool
- Katherine Dormandy Innsbruck
- Heather Douglas Michigan State
- Matt Brown Southern Illinois Carbondale
Contact
The directors welcome inquiries from researchers working on these questions and from funders interested in the agenda.
Write to [email protected].
Funding
This project was supported by a grant from the Templeton Religion Trust (TRT-2022-30120), administered through Samford University. The opinions expressed on this site are those of the project team and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Templeton Religion Trust.
The grant has ended, but its questions remain open. The agenda on this site is offered to anyone who wants to take it up, whether or not a further program is ever funded. The project's real product is a map of a field, and this one is now public.